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Hop in! Uber approved for Montgomery

Trevor Theunissen, Uber Public Policy Manager Southeast, talks about plans following a work session with the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. (Mickey Welsh / Montgomery Advertiser)

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Trevor Theunissen, Public Policy Manager Uber Southeast, answers questions during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016.(Photo: Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)Buy Photo

After making some amendments to the ridesharing ordinance, Montgomery has decided to catch a ride with Uber.

City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday allowing Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) — commonly known as ridesharing companies — to operate within the city.

The vote was 7-2 with Councilmen David Burkette and Fred Bell opposing.

Prior to the vote, the council approved a change to the vehicle inspection law and deleted the price ceiling capping taxicabs.

From here, Uber must apply for its business license with the city. The city must also adopt a plan to complete future vehicle inspections with third-party companies, Council President Charles Jinright said.

Depending on how quickly the application is completed — and assuming City Council approves the license in two weeks — Uber could be operating in Montgomery shortly.

“Within two weeks they should be up and running,” Jinright said.

In fact, Uber Southeast Public Policy Manager Trevor Theunissen said the company already has drivers interested.

“We have a lot of drivers currently signed up in Montgomery ready to go,” Theunissen said.

Uber has always been the most vocal ridesharing suitor vying for Montgomery’s blessing.

While the polarizing company succeeded in earning the city’s trust after almost a year of discussion, it was not without some contention.

The process of getting drivers started was a particular area of concern.

The city fingerprints cab drivers, but Roth said fingerprint checks are unnecessary.

“Historically, fingerprints were seen as the best and only way to do (background checks),” Roth said. “The third-party we use we have a lot of confidence in. We have a safety standard and a safety expectation for our passengers.”

Roth also pointed to Uber’s customer rating system as a way to weed out bad drivers.

After performing background checks and hiring new drivers, Uber wanted to allow them to operate immediately provided they get their vehicle inspected within a 30-day “grace period.”

This is a standard in most cities where Uber operates, according to Theunissen.

Councilmen, particularly Arch Lee, were not amenable to a new hire driving citizens without a vehicle inspection.

“If our concern is to make sure the vehicle is safe and sound, we ought to do it before they take the first person out there,” Lee said.

Roth said the grace period helps Uber build a local workforce quickly. In some cities, Uber is looking for a 60 to 90-day grace period.

Roth said mandated vehicle inspection prior to operation would thin the initial fleet and reflect poorly on the company.

“If they turn on the app for the first time in Montgomery, Alabama, and it says the wait time will be 25 minutes, we’re in real trouble,” Roth said.

In the end, the council changed the 30-day grace period to 15 days.

It was a move Roth said Uber was not happy about. Lee said it was necessary.

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Toby Roth, a governmental affairs consultant for Uber, answers questions during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

Montgomery City Council member Fred Bell expresses concern about Uber during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

Trevor Theunissen, Public Policy Manager Uber Southeast, answers questions during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

Montgomery City Council member Richard Bollinger discusses Uber during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

Toby Roth, a governmental affairs consultant for Uber, answers questions during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

City Council member William Green speaks during discussion on Uber during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

Trevor Theunissen, left, and Toby Roth, representing Uber, answer questions during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

File art. Montgomery City Council member Tracy Larkin during discussion about Uber at a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

Trevor Theunissen, left, and Toby Roth, representing Uber, answer questions during a work session of the Montgomery City Council at city hall in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday January 5, 2016. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

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“I’m excited about (Uber), but we need fairness, security, and we’re not going to give everything away,” Lee said.

Another key change to the transportation code was the proposed price ceiling that states a taxicab will not charge “greater than a (TNC) charges under the same condition.”

Uber’s rates often fluctuate due to “surge pricing” that sees rates multiply during important events. This line was initially seen as a way to level the playing field between taxis and Uber, but the council decided differently.

Councilman William Green said the line allowed Uber to dictate the taxis price plan when the companies should be able to charge as much or as little as they see fit.

The council approved an amendment to remove the price ceiling.

Despite these concerns, city officials showed cautious optimism for Uber.

Mayor Todd Strange said this will only help the city attract youths and events to Montgomery.

“It means we’re progressive, a city on the move,” Strange said after the decision. “It’s being pushed by millennials. It’s going to attract more millennials, more businesses, because they have an alternative transportation.”

Although it will take an estimated 400-600 drivers operating in Montgomery, Lee pointed out that they are part-time civilian drivers.

Not all of them will be on the road at one time. Not all Montgomerians will want to use Uber.

“You’re still going to have demand for the cab companies,” Lee said. “You’re not going to have 400 people driving around at one time. You’ll still have people without a smartphone or a credit card that won’t use it. There’s going to be demand.”

Yellow Cab Company’s Will Sayer is not convinced.

“Maybe in the whole city, there’s 50 cabs. And you want to talk about 400 cars all of the sudden?” Sayer said.

“Cab companies run in the snow and run when you need us to run. We don’t charge more because it’s snowing, because it’s raining real hard or, because we have to get up at 3 in the morning to pick you up,” Sayer said.

On the other hand, some can’t wait to work for Uber.

CSI Ground Transportation owner David Sadler already owns a transportation business. Because his trips are mostly reservation-only, Sadler plans to work for Uber in the downtime between trips.

“We are definitely going to be Uber drivers,” Sadler said. “It’s a great concept. You’ve got to change with the times, and it’s all about the change. … The people in the area want it so you have to give it to them.”

Uber has had plenty of negative publicity in its five-year history. Locally, Uber left Auburn and Tuscaloosa due to disputes about whether it was a taxi service or not.

Roth said Uber previously felt city ordinances “don’t apply,” but the company has since changed its approach to entering markets.

“Uber has recalibrated its approach to dealing with cities,” Roth said. “This approach is what we’re seeing for Montgomery.”